November 30, 1503, Age of the Sea Circle
After discussing in detail with Stussy about the future of the espionage organization that Orion was planning to place under her command, the two of them left the Pocket Dimension, coming face to face with Robin and the others, who were carrying out their morning training as they usually did.
With the exception of Lucky Roux, who hated having to follow a fixed training regimen, the other girls were happy to continue with the training designed by Orion, as they could feel the rapid progress they were making day by day.
Kalifa's training focused primarily on the use of Rokushiki and the handling of Armament Haki, while her sister Alpha was simply focusing on her knife-throwing technique.
On the other hand, Robin had been training to improve her control over her Devil Fruit, trying to increase the number of appendages she could create simultaneously. In addition, she was also training in the use of Armament Haki like Kalifa, as Orion believed it was the only way her Hana Hana no Mi could truly shine to its fullest potential.
Even so, Robin was having quite a few difficulties with the use of Haki, and despite having trained for several months, she had not managed to make much progress.
Orion believed it was likely that she did not possess particularly high natural talent for the use of Haki, but he was not overly concerned about it, as with enough time she would be able to master its use, even if only in a rudimentary way.
Moreover, Orion was considering using a Character Improving Card on her as soon as he obtained one, as perhaps that would allow her to raise her proficiency in Haki, just as had happened with some of his other companions.
When Kalifa and Alpha saw Orion and Stussy finally emerge from the Pocket Dimension after an entire night of absence, they ran over to greet him with smiles, while Robin merely cast a brief glance in Orion's direction before returning to her training.
"Orion! You finally came back. You promised we'd go to the night market, but it's already daytime!" Kalifa said, puffing her cheeks adorably as she complained about Orion's broken promise.
"That's right, you said you'd buy me new knives!" Alpha echoed, also showing a somewhat jealous expression upon seeing Orion together with Stussy, who exuded a harmonious aura alongside him.
"Sorry, Stussy and I had something important to discuss," Orion said, averting his gaze to avoid the curious eyes of the two girls.
"In any case, tonight we'll go to the market as I promised!" Orion continued.
Then, glancing at Stussy as she nodded, he added,
"For now, go with Stussy. She wants to have a conversation with you."
The two girls looked at the CP0 agent, who was a complete stranger to them—to the point that they were only just learning her name at that moment—and reluctantly let go of Orion's embrace to follow Stussy toward the castle, where they would have a private discussion about their future.
Orion had agreed to Stussy's request to train the two Medici sisters because he knew they had enormous talent to be developed, and it was true that they could grow significantly under the guidance of an elite spy like Stussy.
Even so, he had made it clear to the beautiful spy that the final decision would depend on Kalifa and Alpha, as Orion had no intention of forcing them to follow Stussy against their will.
This meant that if the two young members of the Medici family refused to temporarily leave Pacific Kingdom to go with Stussy, the plan to train them as her successors as the head of the new espionage organization of Pacific Kingdom would fall apart before it even began.
Orion had explained this to Stussy, but the beautiful spy had simply smiled radiantly, and it seemed she was confident she could persuade the two girls to follow her and be trained by her.
Watching the silhouettes of the three of them entering Samba Castle, Orion let out a soft sigh, thinking that no matter what the outcome of their conversation might be, he would respect their decision.
Then, glancing at Lucky Roux, who was pretending to train in a corner while sweating nervously, Orion walked over to him with a "friendly" smile and said,
"Roux, how about I help you train?"
The chubby man, who had been praying not to draw Orion's attention, visibly trembled upon hearing his words, then nodded in complete resignation. He had no choice but to train hard that morning.
…
That night, Orion accompanied Stussy to her ship, placing aboard the containers filled with the Dyna Stones that would be transported to Punk Hazard, where Vegapunk's laboratory was located.
Under the moonlight, Orion looked at the beautiful Stussy, who stood before him with a smile, and said,
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me to Pacific Kingdom? Gloriosa would be happy to see you."
"Ha! That ungrateful girl would probably try to beat me up for sleeping with her boyfriend," Stussy replied, then laughed elegantly as she covered her mouth with her hand.
Orion looked at Stussy's expression and immediately understood that, despite the beautiful spy's words, she actually wanted to see her younger sister, although for some reason she was holding herself back.
He did not know the full story between the two peculiar sisters, nor the reason behind Stussy's actions, but if she did not wish to meet Gloriosa right now, it was not something he should interfere with. At this moment, the only thing he could do was offer her the opportunity, and it was up to Stussy to decide how to act afterward.
"I understand. In any case, you're always welcome to visit us. Don't worry too much about external matters—if you truly want to see Gloriosa, you can do so without overthinking it," Orion said with a smile, extending his hand to gently caress the beautiful spy's cheek.
Stussy listened to Orion's words, saw the tenderness in his gaze fixed upon her, and could not help but smile warmly. It was curious how, in just a single day, she had fallen so deeply in love with him—although, considering how much she had already learned about Orion through CP0 reports, it could be said that she had known him for years.
Blushing faintly, Stussy rose onto her tiptoes and kissed Orion tenderly on the lips, savoring one last moment of intimacy with her man before departing for distant lands.
"It's a good proposal, darling. I'll keep it in mind for the future," Stussy said after ending the kiss and taking a step back, placing distance between them once more.
Orion nodded, and his gaze shifted to the two young girls standing behind Stussy, both of them wearing white fox masks.
"Take good care of yourselves, and if you run into any trouble, don't hesitate to call me. Even if distance separates us, you're still my precious family," Orion said, placing both hands on the heads of Kalifa and Alpha.
Tears began to flow beneath the masks, running down the necks of the two Medici girls, and it was obvious what kind of expressions they must have been wearing behind the fox masks.
"We'll train very hard, and when we return, you'll be proud of us!" Alpha said with a trembling voice as she hugged Orion from the left.
"When I come back home, I'll be a woman worthy of being your right hand!" Kalifa declared firmly as she embraced him from the right.
"I trust you both, and I know you'll do well," Orion said, hugging the two girls in farewell.
Now that they would be leaving with Stussy to train and improve their abilities, he would not be able to see them for some time, and he could not help but feel worried about them, especially since both belonged to the Medici family, and if their identities were discovered, Laskey would not remain idle.
Even so, Orion trusted that everything would turn out fine, because he had faith in Stussy's abilities to protect Kalifa and Alpha. After all, the system's evaluation of Stussy's capabilities was truly remarkable, and she was probably his most powerful companion at the moment.
At last, the two girls reluctantly released Orion from their embrace, and he gave a small wave of his hand, retrieving from his inventory the gifts he had prepared for them.
"These are for you," Orion said, handing them their respective presents.
For Alpha, Orion had prepared a set of small curved throwing knives, perfectly suited for someone with her great talent in that area. Although they had visited the Samba night market as Orion had promised, they had not been able to find quality knives for Alpha, something she had been lamenting over the past few hours.
Now, with this gift that Orion had obtained through the system shop, his promise to give her a new set of knives had been fulfilled. Even though many people might find it strange that Orion had chosen to give such a gift to a young girl, neither he nor Alpha thought it unusual in the slightest, as she was not an ordinary child.
Alpha was training hard to become a warrior capable of aiding Orion in his future struggle against the World Government, and although she could not yet fully comprehend the magnitude of the conflict that awaited her, she was destined to live a life very different from that of a normal girl.
For the Alpha who spent her days training her knife-throwing techniques, this gift from Orion was truly perfect.
"These knives contain a small amount of Sea Stone, so they'll be very useful against Devil Fruit users," Orion said.
Alpha's eyes lit up behind the mask she wore, and clutching the knives, she thanked Orion with joy.
On the other hand, Kalifa had received two gifts from Orion. The first was a book that he himself had written, containing stories from his previous world. Kalifa greatly enjoyed these stories, and over the years Orion had transcribed many of them, to the point that he was now almost running out of material to write new books for her.
In addition, Orion had given her a second gift, an item he had also purchased from the system shop at the massive cost of 100,000 SP.
However, unlike the knives he had given to Alpha, this necklace was a special item, as its name in the shop was "Kalifa's Pendant."
There were not many items in the shop that explicitly bore the name of their owner, so it was clear that the existence of this necklace was something special, and likely of great importance to Kalifa.
For that reason, Orion had decided to purchase this costly necklace for her as a farewell gift, now that their paths would be temporarily diverging.
Even so, despite the necklace being specially designed for Kalifa, he did not know what effects it had on her, as the item's description simply stated: "A necklace with very beneficial effects for the Named Character Kalifa," without providing any further details.
Orion had high expectations regarding the benefits this necklace would bring to Kalifa, although he would likely have to wait some time before uncovering the truth behind the mysterious item and the specific advantages she would receive.
"Thank you, Orion! I love this book, and this necklace is beautiful!" Kalifa spun in place, raising both of her gifts above her head cheerfully, and then approached Orion, handing him the necklace as she added,
"Can you put it on for me?"
Orion nodded, and taking the small pendant—which had the shape of a nine and appeared to be made of a material similar to light green jade—he carefully placed it around Kalifa's neck.
The very moment he finished putting the pendant on her, Orion felt a powerful suction coming from the small jade, and both his Conqueror's Haki and the mysterious energy that composed the system and resided within his body began to flow into the pendant like an invisible stream of energy, unseen by anyone else.
For a brief instant, Orion felt as though Kalifa's pendant would absorb all of his energy and leave him completely drained, but just as he was beginning to grow concerned, the suction force stopped, and after glowing ever so faintly, the pendant returned to normal, without Kalifa or the others noticing anything unusual.
Orion let out a relieved sigh when he saw that the strange phenomenon had ceased, but his curiosity regarding this special item linked exclusively to Kalifa grew even stronger. He did not know why the small jade shaped like a nine had suddenly absorbed his energy, but if it was something that could help Kalifa in the future, he was more than willing to provide all the energy required.
Even so, it was curious that both his Conqueror's Haki and the mysterious energy that formed the system—which was different from the attributes of Time and Space contained within it—had been absorbed simultaneously.
Orion finished saying goodbye to Kalifa, Alpha, and Stussy, and was preparing to leave the ship and return to the shore, but at that very moment Robin's voice sounded beside him, and a notification appeared on the system screen.
"Wait… I want to go with them too."
*Ding*
*A new mission is available*
*Mission 25 – Robin's Choice
Description: Robin has suffered a great tragedy, losing everything during the great incident at Ohara. However, thanks to your actions, she was able to find a new place in the world and be happy once again. Now, a new conflict stands before her: the desire to become stronger in order to protect what she loves with her own hands.
Objective: Accept or reject Robin's request
Reward: The reward will vary depending on your choice.
(This is a nodal point in the story of the Named Character (VIP) Nico Robin, please choose carefully.)*
Orion read the information about the new mission on the system screen, then turned to look at Robin, who was standing beside him with both hands pressed against her chest, looking at him with a certain caution, as if she feared he might get angry at what she was about to say.
"Orion… it's not that I'm unhappy living in Pacific Kingdom with you… but I want to become stronger and be able to stand by your side in the future with my head held high!" Robin said, somewhat agitated.
Normally, Robin was a rather calm and even stoic young woman, so it was unusual to see her lose control of her emotions like this. The fact that she was so agitated right now was a clear reflection of how important the current situation was, and how afraid she was that Orion might misunderstand her words.
For Robin, who had escaped hell and loneliness thanks to Orion, there was nothing in the world more important than him, and only wherever Orion was could be considered her home.
However, over the past few years, she had lived in Pacific Kingdom like a precious flower, protected from even the slightest breeze.
This was because Orion cared deeply for her and did not want her to experience anything unpleasant again in her life, which had led him to be somewhat overprotective when it came to Robin, and although she appreciated his affection and concern, she also felt a bit frustrated at being unable to help him at all in his dream of improving the world.
That was why Robin had asked Orion to allow her to train with the royal army of Pacific Kingdom, and why she had been working to improve her combat abilities, moving away from the purely academic focus she had maintained during the first thirteen years of her life.
She had often seen Orion return injured from his adventures in distant lands, and she knew that in the future, the dangers he faced would only continue to increase, which was why she was not satisfied with remaining a beautiful flower silently protected by him.
She wanted to be a true companion to Orion, and for that, she needed to become strong enough. However, over the past few months, her training had not progressed as quickly as she would have liked, as she did not possess as much talent for combat as she did for academic matters.
Nico Robin was undoubtedly one of the most intelligent people in the world, but when it came to combat talent, she was only slightly above average.
One path she could have chosen was to support Orion entirely from a safe position, just as his uncle Lolo did, as he was the one who kept the kingdom running with his incredible administrative and governing abilities, but Robin did not want to resign herself to that role alone.
At present, she stood at the very pinnacle of this world when it came to academic knowledge—surpassed only by monsters like Vegapunk—so she wanted to complement her current talents by increasing her combat power and her practical abilities on the battlefield.
That was why, when she saw that Kalifa and Alpha would be leaving with Stussy to train under her guidance, something within her began to stir, and a thought arose like an irresistible wave: I want to train alongside them as well and become stronger.
Even so, Robin knew that her status was very different from that of the two Medici girls, as she was the sole survivor of Ohara and was being relentlessly pursued by the World Government due to the danger she represented to them.
If Robin were to leave with Stussy like Alpha and Kalifa, the risk of being discovered by her enemies and meeting a tragic end would increase exponentially—but that was precisely why Robin wished to do it.
Although her training in Pacific Kingdom had been producing positive results, she wanted to go further, to advance faster, to gain more real experience, and for that she had to leave the safety of her perfect nest with Orion and fly into the dangerous and unknown outside world.
Orion looked into Robin's eyes in silence, and the two of them held a conversation without speaking a single word. The tenderness and concern in Orion's eyes contrasted with the palpable determination in Robin's, though if there was one thing their gazes shared, it was the affection they held for one another.
Orion knew how dangerous it would be to allow Robin to follow Stussy on her mission to the Underworld, but at that moment he was analyzing the situation with the coldest mind possible. The fact that the system had issued a mission regarding it—and one as peculiar as this, with a format he had encountered only once before during the Rum Wolf mission, where he had to make a decision in order to complete it—made Orion unwilling to act hastily.
Orion did not know what decision he would have made if a mission had not appeared regarding this matter, but he believed that the final outcome would not have changed, as beyond the deep affection he felt for Robin, he also had great faith in her and her abilities.
For that reason, after a few moments of silent exchange through their gazes, Orion smiled warmly and said,
"Alright. If that's truly what you want, then you have my full support."
*Ding*
*Mission 25 – Robin's Choice has been successfully completed*
*You have obtained 10,000 SP*
*You have obtained one (1) Character Improving Card*
*You have obtained "Portal Mark" (x1)*
Orion looked at the rewards he had obtained and smiled happily upon seeing that they were truly excellent. Then, with a movement of his mind, he took out the "Portal Mark" he had just received—a small slip of paper with a strange symbol on it—and handed it to Robin.
"This is a one-use talisman. If you run into any trouble while you're away from home, just tear it and call me. I promise I'll appear right in front of you the moment you do."
The Portal Mark was essentially an anchor point for his Space Gate, although it was limited to a single use, making it a consumable item.
Even so, to Orion it was the greatest treasure, as it would allow him to travel instantly to wherever Robin was, regardless of where in the world she might be or how far apart they were.
Although the danger for Robin in the outside world still existed, Orion could feel much more at ease knowing she had this talisman, as it at least granted him the opportunity to appear beside her and help if she ever found herself in trouble.
Robin accepted the paper Orion handed her with solemnity, carefully storing it within her clothes, and then leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly. Orion returned the embrace, and for a few moments they remained still, enjoying the tender farewell.
Orion did not know how long Robin would be away from home, but it certainly would not be a short time. Although he would always have the option of visiting her, he would no longer be able to see her as often as when she lived in Pacific Kingdom, which made him feel a bit saddened.
Even so, Orion knew he had to allow Robin to spread her wings freely, as only in that way could she grow and become an independent woman.
At last, Orion and Robin ended their embrace, and Stussy spoke for the first time since Robin had unilaterally proposed going with her.
"I suppose you weren't planning to ask me whether I agreed to take the world's greatest fugitive along with me, were you?" Stussy said, rolling her eyes in an adorable manner.
"Stussy, please take care of Robin as well. She's strong and capable and will be of help to you, but don't overwork her, or I'll have to spank you the next time I see you," Orion said with a smile, looking somewhat like a rogue—something Stussy did not dislike in the slightest.
"Alright, alright. I'll take care of your beloved Robin. Ah, what was I thinking falling in love… It's true what they say, the one who falls in love loses," Stussy said with an exaggerated sigh, though she was simply trying to lighten the mood and keep it from becoming too solemn.
Orion stepped closer to Stussy and kissed her passionately. Then, placing a hand on the beautiful spy's cheek, he said,
"Thank you, Stussy. Remember that you can also call me whenever you need me."
"Oh? Even if I need you to warm my bed?" Stussy asked in a sensual tone, and before Orion could reply, she took a step back, creating distance between them. Then, pulling out a new mask from her clothes, she handed it to Robin.
"Here, put on this mask and your hood as well. Even though only my trusted subordinates are on this ship, we must be careful not to reveal your identity from now on," Stussy said seriously.
There were, of course, subordinates of the beautiful spy aboard this cargo ship, though at the moment they were far from the deck, as their leader had ordered. These subordinates were individuals she had personally selected and trained over the past three years, and now they would accompany her to carry out her mission in the Underworld.
If there was something worth noting about this group of subordinates, it was that all of them were women, and that it was a relatively small group, as she could not truly control a group that was too large without allowing traitors to slip into her ranks.
In the future, her faction within the Underworld would grow to a massive size, and it would be impossible to remain completely impervious to traitors and enemy agents, though she would do her best to keep the core of her subordinates as pure as possible.
Robin took the mask Stussy handed her, which was that of an adorable black cat, and put on her hood as the beautiful spy had instructed. Then, turning around, she fixed her gaze once more on Orion and said with a hint of shyness,
"C-Can you let him out for a moment?"
Naturally, Robin was asking Orion to switch places with his adolescent self—or, in other words, to limit the presence of his adult mind—though she did not say it explicitly, as the existence of the "other Orion" was something only she fully understood, having read the diary he had written.
Orion nodded with a smile and suppressed the memories of his past life, transforming into his natural thirteen-year-old self, while also undoing his Age Change to return to his original state.
Seeing that Orion had returned to his adolescent form—one the same age as her—Robin stepped forward in a hurry, and lifting her mask slightly, pressed her soft pink lips against his in a farewell kiss.
The kiss was brief and tender, and once it ended, Robin adjusted her mask and ran off toward the depths of the ship without saying another word.
…
Sitting on the shores of Samba, Orion watched Stussy's ship disappear over the horizon, and he could not help but sigh as he thought about how much he would miss Robin, Kalifa, and Alpha. Even so, he knew this was for the best for the development of their abilities, and he tried to remain positive.
Finally, he selected the Character Improvement Card on the system screen and used it without hesitation, choosing Robin as the recipient of its benefits.
New notifications appeared on the system screen.